Baykeeper has advocated for new regulations under California’s Green Chemistry Initiative, which would require manufacturers to phase out toxic chemicals in consumer products. The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported new changes by the California Department of Toxics that threaten to seriously weaken these regulations.

Instead of regulating all potentially harmful products, the weakened rules would only apply to three specific types of products: those for children under 12 years of age, household cleaners and personal care items. Although this covers a large portion of the regulated products, many other common consumer goods also contain hazardous chemicals which affect public health and pollute our air and water. We’ll keep working to strengthen these regulations so that consumer products aren’t a source of toxic pollution to the Bay.

Read more about these latest developments in the San Francisco Chronicle.